October Term 2022 · Docket 145 ORIG.
Does the 1974 federal law require banks to report unclaimed checks to the state where the customer lives?
Delaware argues the law mandates reporting to the customer's home state. Pennsylvania and Wisconsin say the law only covers specific check types.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Delaware's counsel argued the statute solves a collection problem.
Pennsylvania's counsel argued the text limits coverage to bank checks.
Justices questioned the definition of similar instruments.
Justices asked about the practical impact of the rule.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 9-39 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 9-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 11-1 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 11-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-43 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-33 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-45
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of a 1974 federal statute. The law addresses unclaimed financial instruments. States disagree on which instruments the law covers. The dispute centers on statutory interpretation. The Court must define the term used in the statute. This definition determines which state receives the funds.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 11-1 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 11-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-33 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-33
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 3, 2022.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 15-23
What each side wants
Delaware wants the Court to apply the law to all unclaimed checks.
Pennsylvania and Wisconsin want the Court to limit the law to specific check types.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 11-1 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 11-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-33 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-33
What each side says
Delaware argues the statute aims to fix a common law gap.
Pennsylvania and Wisconsin argue the statute uses specific terms that exclude some checks.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 11-1 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 11-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-33 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-33
What the justices asked
Justice Jackson asked if the statute breaks from common law.
Chief Justice Roberts asked about the total value of different check types.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 9-39 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 9-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-43 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-45
Why it matters
The outcome determines which state collects unclaimed funds. It affects state revenue and consumer access to money. It clarifies federal preemption of state escheat laws. It impacts financial institutions' reporting obligations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 11-1 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 11-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-33 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-33
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 9-39 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 9-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-43 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-45
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 11-1 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 11-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-33 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 11-1 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 11-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-33 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-33
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.